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Barbara levitated a bowl of popcorn into the air, a warm, black and white ghost patterned blanket she had summoned earlier slung over her shoulder as she made her way into the living room. It was her, Adam and Lydia’s weekly horror movie binging night. She settled down onto the couch to Lydia’s right just as Adam teleported into the living room.
“Ready for tonight?” he asked, and Barbara and Lydia nodded. Barbara gestured towards the only empty spot on the couch to Lydia’s left, and Adam settled down immediately.
Barbara handed Lydia her popcorn, and the teen dug into it immediately; exuberant. The blanket Barbara had summoned for Lydia was draped over the teenager’s shoulders, and Barbara summoned two more: one for her and one for Adam. They were dead and icy cold yes, but that didn’t mean they couldn’t have blankets themselves. Tonight, Lydia had been ecstatic to watch one of her all time favorite horror movies.
“You got everything?” Adam asked, breaking a silence when it went on way too long.
Barbara nodded in response, pointing out everything as she spoke. “Yeah. I made Lydia her popcorn, summoned blankets for each of us, and the movie’s already been chosen. We’re all set!” Her attention flicked to Lydia. “Want me to start the movie now?”
“Sure…” Lydia nodded, yawning. “I… don’t…mind…”
She cuddled up with the Maitlands and dozed off right as her chosen horror movie started to play, leaning her head against Adam’s shoulder. Adam jostled her awake within seconds of that. “Woah there, kiddo. We can’t have you dozing off and falling asleep now. You’ve been wanting to watch this with us for the past few days.”
Lydia blinked a few times. “I wasn’t dozing off, Adam… I was… just…”
She trailed off, before she could even finish. Dozing off again, this time, she rested her head in Barbara’s lap. Barbara urged her awake, and Lydia sat up; her attention once again on the movie. Barbara waved her hand, draping Lydia’s blanket over her shoulders again when she noticed it had fallen off.
‘It must’ve done that when she laid her head in my lap,’ Barbara thought to herself.
Lydia leaned over a little ways to the side, falling asleep with her head resting on Barbara’s shoulder again. Her arms were wrapped tightly around her ghost mother’s chest, and light snores sounded. Drowned out when a piercing scream sounded from the tv.
“Lydia,” Barbara said quietly and softly, and urged the teenage girl to sit up. To no avail.
Her gaze locked with Adam’s for a moment, and he gave her a worried but but still as calm look. Barbara let out an unneeded breath, and returned her stunned gaze to Lydia; still fast asleep. Lydia just looked so peaceful right now, with her head resting on her ghost mother’s shoulder. Barbara didn’t have the heart to move Lydia. She didn’t want to risk waking her up even if she did. Barbara stirred and shifted, straightening her blanket and refocusing her attention on the movie.
That seemed to do no good. Lydia shifted as well, tightening her grip on Barbara. The next thing the teenager murmured out, took the Maitlands by complete surprise.
“Mom… please don’t let go… please… don’t… leave me…”
Barbara’s eyes widened, then her expression softened. She glanced over towards a stunned Adam, then Lydia. Softly, as she stroked an ice cold hand throughout Lydia’s hair to calm her right down, she whispered, “I would never ever think of it…”
A smile crossed Lydia’s face and she buried her head into Barbara’s arm falling back asleep again. Adam shifted closer to both females, draping an arm around Barbara’s shoulder and curling up next to her and Lydia with his head resting on Barbara’s shoulder. In turn, Barbara rested herself up against the back of the couch, an arm draped across the top and her hand brushing up against Adam’s chin.
For the rest of the night, ghost mother, ghost father, and living daughter stayed in that exact position. Not bothering to get up out of it to switch off the tv when their horror movie finished playing. They were much too content. Much too happy. Soft smiles plastered on each of their faces.